Filing system



(kit; 23, T1923.

rm Nl-uARLL/monn 1,472,@2 W. H. HQLMES FILING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 2 1920 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR lAZ/v. HOLMES ATTORNEYS I mmm @(Cfi. 23, 1923.

w. HOLMES FILING SYSTEM Filed NOV. 2, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIVVE/VTOH WH. HOLMES I A TTOR/VEVS W/T/VESSES Patented @ct. 23, 1923.

UNETED sraras tarmac WILLIAM H. HOLMES, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

FILING SYSTEM.

Application filed November To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, VILLIAM H. HOLMES, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Mount Vernon, in the county of WVestr.

chester and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved FilingSystem, of which the following is a full, clear, and

. exact description.

My invention relates to a filing system, and aims to provide an articleof this nature which shall embody certain improved constructions oversystems and devices of this type heretofore placed upon the market.

It is well appreciated in connection. with filing devices commonlytermed systems" that numerous articles of this nature have beenpresented to the purchasing public, which have embodied the provision ofa series-of cards arranged one above the other, the lower edges of eachbeing visible and bearing the name to which the data upon the cardrefers.

These devices, have for the most part presented objectionable featuresin that p-rimarily, it has been extremely difiicult to re move a cardfrom the center of a tier of the same. Second, devices of this naturehave been for the most part extremely expensive. Third, numerouslimitations have also been found in these systems, in that but one sideof the card has been available for recording data, in that the nextadjoining cards have been incapable of being moved beyond a limitedextent, and fourth, with the invisible filing systems heretofore placedupon the market, the reference data to be associated with the card hadnecessarily to be limited to the space available for placing data uponthe face thereof, no provision being made for the association of anydata, such as already fillcd in cards, etc. with the same.

WVith these objects in view, have devised a filing system or device, inwhich primarily, any card within a tier of cards may be instantlyremoved.

A.v further object of my invention is the construction of a filingsystem in which both faces of the card may be available for the writingor inspection of data thereon, when the same are arra-n ed in tier form.

Another obj ectot my invention is the const ruction of a filing devicewith which a certain amount of prior data may be attached to 2, 1920.Serial No. 421,258.

a current card, subject of course to reasonable limitations with regardto the bulk of the same.

Further objects of my invention will appear in the annexedspecifications and draw- ,ings, which latter present practicalembodiments of my invention, and in which Figure 1 is a front view of afiling system constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a side view thereof.

Figure 3 is a plan view.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional side View of one of the elementsforming a part of the same.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing a slightly differentform (if device.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional side view taken along the line 6-6 ofFigure 5.

Figure 7 is a plan View thereof.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the u per edge of thedevice, andshowing t e cards in their proper position.

F iguren9 is a view similar to Figure 8, but showin one of the cards inthe process of removal.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional side view showing indetail one of the elements of the system illustrated in Figures 5 to 9.

Referring now more particularly to the structure illustrated in Figure1, it will be seen that I preferably utilize a backing strip 15 providedwith inwardly turned side edges 16, to form grooves 17.

It is to be noted that the material from which the backing. sheet isconstructed is preferably of a flexible nature, so that the body of thesame may be distorted, to a certain extent for a purpose hereinaftermore fully specified.

Associated with the strip 15 are a series of strips, each including amain body portion 18, which may have its edges 19 bent, so as to impartrigidity to the body 18 to prevent distortion. It is also to be notedthat each of the strips is bent adjacent its ends to provide an offsetportion 20, adapted to pro ject within the grooves 17 of the backingsheet.

It. will also be seen that'the offset portion 20 isof such a length, asto permit of the Eli? track 22 to the strip.

Referring now more particularly to the specific construction of thestrip, it will be seen-that the same preferably includes a series oflugs, or other suitable securing mediums 21, for rigidly attaching awire or on this track are a series of clasps 23 of any suitablecharacter, by means of which reference cards 24: may be associated oneto each of the strips.

It is also to be noted that by virtue of providing preferably more thana pair ofclasping members 23 other data 25 extraneous of the card 24 maybe also associated with the strip. Thus in the Figures 1 to 1, I haveillustrated a filing system or device, which will, be extremely simplein construction, and in which each of the cards 24 will be properlyretained without any complicated apparatus, each side of each card beingavailable for the association of data therewith, by swinging the cardand clasping I members 23 around the track or wire 22.

To now provide a medium which will permit of the insertion of a card ina position at which the same is interposed between two cards alreadyarranged upon the backing sheet 15, without the necessity of removingthese latter cards therefrom, the inwardly turned side edges of thebacking sheet 15 are provided with a series of openings 26, which arepreferably formed with care, so that a strip may not accidentally ridetherethrough.

The openings 26 in the opposite side edges are preferably also arrangedin staggered relationship one with the other, and by this arrangement,it will be appreciated that by flexing the main strip 15 in the mannerspecified to permit of a movement of the strips within the groove 17 of.the same, that one end of a new strip may be primarily introducedthrough an opening-26 to one of the side walls of the groove 1.7, andslid within the same to a point atwhich the opposite end of the stripmay be inserted through the next opening of the opposite inturned sideedge of the backing sheet.

By this arrangement it will be appre ciated that it will not benecessary to remove the strips already in position to permitoftheintroduction of a new strip, and also by arranging "the openings 26of opposite grooves in separaterelationship one with the other, that apossibility of one of the strips becoming accidentally dissociated wit-hthefilbacking sheet is precluded.

Referring now more particularly to the Slidably mount-ed up-'construction illustrated in Figures 5 to 10, it will be seen that thisconstruction em bracesabacking sheet27 provided,as in the case of theafore-deseribed figures, with inwardly turned side edges 28, andopenings 29 formed'through the same. b

This construction, however, is particularly adapted for use where aminimum of expense is to be incurred, and with this in view, the strips30 may be ofa simple rectangular form, and of any desirablematerial.Also, the backing sheet will not necessarily have to embody flexiblequalities. As in Figures 1 to 4, a wire or track 31 may be attached toeach of the strips 30, and a series of clasping members 32 associatedtherewith, to provide an attaching medium for the cards 33.

To now provide means which will serve to retain the strips 30 in theirproper horizontal plane, it is to be noted that each of the inturnedside edges is formed with a series of openings 34: capable of accomodating a detachable button 35, of any suitable character.

It will be obvious that upon the association of the button 35 with theinturned side edge of the backing sheet 27, a certain poi tion of thebutton will project into the space 36 existant between the inner face ofthe main portion of the backing sheet, and inturned side edge. thereof,this projecting portion being adapted to engage'the lowermost edge ofone of the strips 30, to prevent any downward movement on the part ofthe same.

To provide means which will permit of all-of the strip-s being quicklydetached from the backing sheet 27, and at the same time to preventtheir accidental dissociation with this member, it will be noted,reference being had to Figure 8, that the side portions 37 of thebacking sheet 27 are formed with openings 38 adjacent their upper ends;which openings are adapted to receive a retaining strip 39, which latterextends between and firmly seats within the spaces 36, and adjacent theupper end of the same.

lhus,reference being bad to Figures 5 to 8, it will be seen that anyupward motion on the part of the strips 30 is precluded. It will also beapparent that upon the strip 39, which has its end 40 preferablyextending beyond the main sheet to provide a grasping portion, beingwithdrawn, that the strips 30 may readily be removed from the backingsheet. p

Also in the manner described in connection with Figures 1 to 2, newstrips may be associated with the backing sheet by the simple expedientof using the openings 29 as a-foredescribed.

From'the foregoing it will be noted that by means of my improvedconstruction all .of the objects set forth in the preamble of thisspecification are accomplished, and that 5 structure might readily beresorted to without in the least departing from the spirit of myinvention, which I claim asl. A filing system, including at, backingsheet, said hacking" sheet being formed with W grooves adjt its sideedgw, one of the side wells of each of said groom being formed withopenings, the openings in 0ppositegrecves being arranged in staggeredneleticnehiis ene to the other, and strips having en adapted to passthrough said openings and to be received in said grooves. 2. A filingstem including a. backing strip; seid backing strip being formed withgreoves edjewnt to its side edges, due of the side walls of each of saidgrooves being formed with openings, strips adapted to hngve their endsarranged in said grooves, and means edepted to extend through saidopenings fer preventing movement of said strips lengitudinelly c113 seidves. WILLIAM H. HULMES.

